Government equity capital is making things happen, but financial community must show some creative leadership in risk-taking
David Crane argues that Canadian banks, pension funds and other private investors are not providing enough growth-stage equity capital for innovative domestic companies, forcing many to seek U.S. funding or be acquired by foreign firms. He notes that while federal initiatives such as the Canada Growth Fund, BDC programs and the proposed Canada Strong Fund are helping fill the gap, the government should not be the primary source of risk capital. He says that Canada's financial institutions must take a greater leadership role in financing high-growth sectors such as AI, quantum computing, clean energy, and defence technology to strengthen the country's long-term competitiveness and economic sovereignty.
